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1 terror suspect on loose as French hostage standoffs end

Heavily armed police mounted simultaneous attacks on two hostage-standoffs about 30 miles apart on Friday, killing two terror suspects holed up in a warehouse north of Paris and a gunman who had seized hostages at a kosher supermarket in the capital.

PARIS — Heavily armed police mounted simultaneous attacks on two hostage-standoffs about 30 miles apart on Friday, killing two terror suspects holed up in a warehouse north of Paris and a gunman who had seized hostages at a kosher supermarket in the capital.

Four people were killed when the supermarket gunman entered the store, Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said. Sixteen hostages were freed, one from the warehouse and 15 others from the grocery. Several people — including two police officers — were reported wounded at the supermarket.

Police were still on the lookout for an associate of the terrorists, Hayat Boumeddiene, 26, who police described as the common-law wife and accomplice of the supermarket gunman, Amedy Coulibaly, 32. Boumeddiene's whereabouts and link to the supermarket attack remain unknown, but she is considered armed and dangerous.

Family members of the slain terrorists are among several people who have been charged over the attacks, Molins said.

Clockwise from top left: Amedy Coulibaly, Hayat Boumeddiene, Said Kouachi, and his brother, Cherif Kouachi.(Photo: French police)

Hours after the sieges ended, al-Qaeda's branch in Yemen said it had "directed" the Wednesday massacre at the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo "as revenge for the honor" of Islam's prophet, Mohammed, a member of AQAP in Yemen said in a statement to the Associated Press. The weekly paper has published cartoons lampooning Mohammed.

The attack reiterated the late al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden's warnings to the West about "the consequences of the persistence in the blasphemy against Muslim sanctities," according to the statement.

But U.S. authorities said later they are reviewing the claim of responsibility, two U.S. officials told USA TODAY.

It was not immediately clear whether al-Qaeda actually directed and financed the attack or merely supported the gunmen, Said Kouachi and his younger brother, Cherif, said the officials, who are not authorized to comment publicly. The Kouachis died Friday in the warehouse shootout with police.

Witnesses had reported that as the masked gunmen fled the newspaper carnage, one shouted that al-Qaeda was responsible. Officials also said Said Kouachi had traveled to Yemen sometime in 2011 and trained with al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

Hours before dying with his brother, Cherif Kouachi told French broadcaster BFMTV on Friday that he was financed by a network loyal to al-Awlaki.

About the same time the AQAP statement was issued, one of the terror group's top religious figures said in a speech posted to YouTube that France would face more violence if it did not stop fighting Islam, its symbols and Muslims in general.

"Some of the sons of France were disrespectful to the prophets of Allah, so a group from among the believing soldiers of Allah marched unto them, then they taught them respect and the limit of the freedom of expression," according to a translation from the terror-monitoring SITE Institute. "Soldiers who love Allah and His messengers have come unto you, and they do not fear death but adore martyrdom in the cause of Allah."

In a brief address to the nation Friday night, French President Francois Hollande urged people to remain united and alert. Calling the grocery attack "a terrifying anti-Semitic act," he said the terrorists were "fanatics who have nothing to do with Islam."

"The threats facing France are not finished," he said. "We must be vigilant." But, he added, "we will come out of this challenge stronger."

Police confirmed the Kouachi brothers had been cornered in a printing warehouse in the village of Dammartin-en-Goele, and were killed in the operation that erupted with loud explosions, smoke and gunfire. At the same time, security forces in eastern Paris stormed the supermarket in Porte de Vincennes, killing Coulibaly.

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A forensic police officer works in the Hyper Casher kosher grocery store on Jan. 9 near Porte de Vincennes in eastern Paris. Police assaulted the store, killing the gunman and freeing several hostages. Eric Feferberg, AFP/Getty Images

Police officers search for clues near a body lying in a kosher supermarket. Four hostages died at the supermarket after police stormed the store, killing Amedy Coulibaly, the suspected gunman. Francois Mori, AP

Police officers next to a body lying in the kosher market, in Paris, Friday Jan. 9, 2015. What started as a hunt for two terror suspects took on an even graver focus Friday as French police grappled with a potential terrorist cell. The suspects knew each other, had been linked to previous terrorist activities, and one had fought or trained with Al Qaida in Yemen. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) ORG XMIT: XFM125 Francois Mori, AP

The streets are closed around a kosher grocery store in Paris where hostages were taken on Jan. 9. The gunman is linked to the killing of a policewoman and an attack on the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo. Thomas Samson, AFP/Getty Images

Police forces gather together at Porte de Vincennes, in eastern Paris after a gunman opened fire at a kosher grocery store and took hostages on Jan. 9.The gunmanislinked to the killing of a policewoman and an attack on a French satirical newspaper. Martin Bureau, AFP/Getty Images

French police forces secure the area near a kosher grocery store near Porte de Vincennes in eastern Paris, where at least one person was injured when a gunman opened fire at the kosher grocery store. Eric Feferberg, AFP/Getty Images

The Kouachi brothers were the target of an intense, two-day manhunt after they killed 12 people -- eight journalists, two police officers, a maintenance worker and a visitor -- and wounded 11 others in the attack on the offices of Charlie Hebdo.

"They said they want to die as martyrs," Yves Albarello, a lawmaker who said he was inside the police command post in Dammartin-en-Goele, told French television station i-Tele.

The two suspects were killed after they emerged from their hideout and opened fire on police, according to the French BFMTV.

The coordinated police assaults came after Coulibaly had threatened to kill his hostages in the Paris market if police stormed the industrial park in Dammartin-en-Goele.

In a separate BFMTV interview before he died, Coulibaly said the two "operations" were carefully planned. Police say he and Boumeddiene began Thursday by murdering a policewoman and wounding another officer south of Paris.

"We were just synched from the beginning, which means when they started at Charlie Hebdo, I started to do the policemen," he said.

Coulibaly also said he was a member of the Islamic State, the extremist group that has taken over large parts of Syria and Iraq.

Coulibaly and Chérif Kouachi knew each other, AFP reported, quoting a source close to the investigation.

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A man passes a makeshift memorial with the new edition of "Charlie Hebdo" as he pays his respectsto the victims of the terror attack near the newspaper's headquarters on Rue Nicolas Appert on Jan. 14 in Paris. Two gunmen killed 12 people during a Jan. 7 attack at the newspaper's office. Ian Langsdon, European Pressphoto Agency

A copy of the latest edition of the French satirical publication "Charlie Hebdo" is placed with floral tributes outside the magazine's office. Three million copies of the new edition sold out within minutes. Joel Saget, AFP/Getty Images

Thousands of people attend a demonstration in solidarity with the victims of terrorist attacks in and around Paris linked to Wednesday's attack on French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo at the Old-Port of Marseille, France. Claude Paris, AP

A woman cries as she visits the site of an attack on a kosher market in Paris on Jan. 10. What started as a hunt for two terror suspects took on an even graver focus Jan. 9 as French police grappled with a potential terrorist cell. Peter Dejong, AP

A man holds a picture of Jean Cabut, a "Charlie Hebdo" cartoonist killed in a terror attack Jan. 7, during a rally in front of the French consulate in Istanbul, on Jan. 10. Bulent Kilic, AFP/Getty Images

An assault group attacks the CTD printing building on Jan. 9 as they conduct an attack on two suspects who killed 12 people at the "Charlie Hebdo" newspaper in Dammartin-en-Goele, France. The suspected gunmen were holding a hostage in the building. Yoan Valat, European Pressphoto Agency

French police authorities protect themselves behind police cars in in Dammartin-en-Goele while an assault is launched against the suspects in the shooting attack at "Charlie Hebdo." The suspects had taken one hostage. Etienne Laurent, European Pressphoto Agency

Helicopters fly over buildings in Dammartin-en-Goele, northeast of Paris, following the hostage situation where two brothers suspected of killing 12, including 11 at the offices of satirical newspaper "Charlie Hebdo," were shot dead by police. Dominique Faget, AFP/Getty Images

Artist Julien paints a tribute portrait of French cartoonist Jean Cabut, also known as Cabu, in Marseille, France. Cabut was killed during the massacre at "Charlie Hebdo" in Paris on Jan. 7. Claude Paris, AP

Police take up a position on a roof, where two brothers suspected of slaughtering 12 people in an attack on French satirical newspaper "Charlie Hebdo" held one person hostage on Jan. 9. Dominique Faget, AFP/Getty Images

Police authorities climb to the roof of a printing building in Dammartin-en-Goele where two men took a hostage on Jan. 9. The men are suspects in the shooting attack at the offices of "Charlie Hebdo" in Paris. Yoan Valat, European Pressphoto Agency

A police helicopter flies over Dammartin-en-Goele, France, on Jan. 9 where two brothers suspected of killing 12 people in an attack on a Paris-based satirical newspaper may be cornered inside a printing house. Joel Saget, AFP/Getty Images

Muslims men pray in the Grande Mosque of Saint-Etienne, France, next to a sign reading "Je suis Charlie." Two days earlier an Islamist attack on the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo killed 12. Jean-Philippe Ksiazek, AFP/Getty Images

A military helicopter flies over Dammartin-en-Goele. French security forces swarmed the small industrial town northeast of Paris during the search for the two brothers suspected of attacking the "Charlie Hebdo" newspaper. Peter Dejong, AP

A helicopter flies over the CTD printing building in Dammartin-en-Goele, where the two brothers suspected of killing 12 people in an attack on Paris-based satirical newspaper "Charlie Hebdo" may be cornered. Etienne Laurent, epa

Armed security forces fly over Dammartin-en-Goele where French security forces swarmed the town during an operation to capture a pair of heavily armed suspects in the deadly storming of the satirical newspaper "Charlie Hebdo." Thibault Camus, AP

The Eiffel Tower lights were switched off for six minutes as a tribute to the victims of the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris. Three days of national mourning have been put in place by French President Francois Hollande. Jose Rodriguez, European PressPhoto Agency

Rome's Capitoline Hill, designed by Renaissance artist and architect Michelangelo Buonarroti, is lit with the colors of the French flag to express solidarity with those killed in an attack at the Paris offices of weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo. Andrew Medichini, AP

Members of the GIPN and RAID, French police special forces, walk in Corcy, northern France, as they carry out searches as part of an investigation into a deadly attack the day before by armed gunmen on the Paris offices of French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo. Francois Lo Presti, AFP/Getty Images

Handout photos released by French Police in Paris show suspects Cherif Kouachi, 32, at left, and his brother Said Kouachi, 34, wanted in connection with an attack at the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo. via AFP/Getty Images

People place candles during a gathering on Republic Square in Paris on Jan. 8 as a tribute to 12 people killed by two gunmen at a French weekly newspaper's editorial office. Kenzo Tribouillard, AFP/Getty Images

A child lights a candle next to a poster that reads, "I am Charlie" on Jan. 8 in Turin during a rally in remembrance of the victims of an attack against "Charlie Hebdo." Marco Bertorello, AFP/Getty Images

A woman holds front pages of French newspapers that read, "All united," left, and "We are all Charlie," as she stands with municipal police officers to observe a minute of silence for victims of the shooting in the Nice Town Hall in southeastern France. Lionel Cironneau, AP

Demonstrators in Marseille, France, hold a banner that reads, "I am Charlie" during a demonstration against a terrorist attack at the Paris office of the "Charlie Hebdo" newspaper on Jan. 7. Twelve people were killed when gunmen attacked the publication that had often outraged Muslims with controversial cartoons of the prophet Mohammed. Claude Paris, AP

Journalists hold signs that read "I am Charlie" as they hold a minute of silence at the office of the French news company Agence France-Presse after an attack by gunmen on the offices of the satirical weekly "Charlie Hebdo" in Paris. Bertrand Guay, AFP/Getty Images

A man holds a placard reading "Why?" during a rally in support of the victims of Wednesday's terrorist attack on French satirical newspaper "Charlie Hebdo" at Republic Square in Paris. Dominique Faget, AFP/Getty Images

A man holds a placard reading: "Freedom of the press is priceless, fundamentalism, of any kind, will not pass" as others hold up pens and placards reading in French, "I am Charlie" during a gathering at the Place de la Republique in Paris on Jan. 7, 2015, following an attack by gunmen on the offices of the satirical weekly, "Charlie Hebdo." Martin Bureau, AFP/Getty Images

A man lights a candle next to a poster reading "Je suis Charlie" (I am Charlie) in front of the French embassy on January 7, 2015 in Berlin to express solidarity with employees of the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo that has been target of an attack by unknown gunmen. German Chancellor Angela Merkel condemned the "despicable" attack on Charlie Hebdo that left at least 12 people dead in a condolence letter to President Francois Hollande. AFP PHOTO / JOHN MACDOUGALLJOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/Getty Images ORG XMIT: 1338 ORIG FILE ID: 536538075 John Macdougall, AFP/Getty Images

Flowers are placed around a poster depicting killed French cartoonists Cabu, Charb and Wolinski in front of the French embassy in Berlin. The words read, "Victims of their success." John Macdougall, AFP/Getty Images

An injured person is evacuated from the office of the French satirical newspaper "Charlie Hebdo" in Paris. Twelve people were killed and more wounded when gunmen firing automatic weapons stormed the office. Thibault Camus, AP

The latest incidents left the country reeling and prompted Hollande to convene a crisis meeting with top government officials at the presidential palace.

Prime Minister Manuel Valls acknowledged in a TV interview that here had been "a failing" in intelligence, while the head of the police union said the attacks resulted from a "breakdown" either in law enforcement or the judicial system.

Security experts noted the difficulties in preventing attacks because of the several thousand potential terrorists on watch lists.

Hollande, in an apparent bid to head off a backlash toward French Muslims, called on citizens not to let the attacks by the terrorists divide the nation.

"These terrorists, those fanatics have nothing to do with Islam," he said. "We need to mobilize to be able to respond by force when needed, but we also must respond with solidarity."

The massive manhunt for the two brothers came to a head earlier Friday after the suspects stole a Peugeot car. The pair exchanged gunfire at a roadblock before fleeing to the nearby industrial town where the standoff ensued. Police had concentrated on the region after a clerk at a gasoline station said the pair robbed him at gunpoint Thursday.

After arriving in Dammartin-en-Goele, the brothers approached a salesman identified only as Didier as he prepared to enter the family-run printing and advertising firm in the town, French radio reported.

Didier said a person, who was heavily armed and resembled French special forces, introduced himself as a policeman and said, "You should go. We don't kill civilians anyway."

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French soldiers patrol around the Eiffel Tower on Jan. 8 in Paris. The capital was on high-alert status as police and military units searched for two heavily armed gunmen who killed 12 people at the satirical newspaper "Charlie Hebdo" on Jan. 7. Bertrand Guay, AFP/Getty Images

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Over the past two days, authorities have begun to piece together the background of the Kouachi brothers.

Cherif Kouachi had been convicted on terrorism charges, and Said Kouachi traveled to Yemen in 2011, raising the prospect he had training or direction, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak on the case publicly. Both were on the U.S. no-fly watch list, the official added.

Another suspect in Charlie Hebdo attack, Hamyd Mourad, 18, surrendered at a police station early Thursday in Charleville-Mezieres, a small town in France's eastern Champagne region, Paris prosecutor's spokeswoman Agnes Thibault-Lecuivre said.

Mourad's role in the attack, if any, remains unclear. The teenager has an alibi, telling authorities he was at school at the time, the BBC reported.

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President Barack Obama commented on the recent attacks in France, stating "I want the people of France to know that the United States stands with you."
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President Obama, speaking in Knoxville, Tenn., to announce a major proposal to make community college free, expressed relief Friday that the crisis in Paris appears to have reached a culminating point.

"We're hopeful the immediate threat is now resolved," Obama said. "In the streets of Paris, the world has seen once again what terrorists stand for. They have nothing to offer but hatred and human suffering."

He added, "We stand for freedom, hope and the dignity of all human beings, and that's what the city of Paris represents to the world."

Hours later, the State Department issued a global travel warning, noting other recent terror attacks and the increased risk to Americans because of the U.S.-led campaign against Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq.